New SG-1 pineapple variety to be cultivated in four states

 The new variety, known as Sarawak Gold-1, is sweeter than MD2 and reaches maturity faster, allowing for quicker harvests, says the pineapple board.

The Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board said the Sarawak Gold-1 variety was brought from Taiwan and introduced in Miri in 2022. (SG1pineapple pic)

MELAKA:

The new Sarawak Gold-1 pineapple variety is being introduced for cultivation across Peninsular Malaysia to boost productivity and strengthen supplies for the processing sector, says the pineapple board.

About 500 hectares of SG-1 crops have been cultivated so far in Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, and Pahang, with plans to introduce the variety to Melaka, said Khairuzamri M Salleh, director-general of the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board.

He said the new variety was brought from Taiwan and introduced in Miri, Sarawak, in December 2022. It has has a shorter maturity period of nine months compared to 14-16 months for the MD2 variety. “So it can be harvested quicker to help increase planters’ income,” he said.

Khairuzamri said SG-1 is of equal quality with MD2 but sweeter, making the variety highly suitable for both fresh consumption and the processing industry.

“We aim for about 60% of SG-1 production for the processing into juice production and canned pineapples. This segment accounts for about 70% of pineapple export value, which previously reached RM1.4 billion,” he said after the opening the city council’s bromeliad garden here.

The SG-1 variety was being introduced to local operators and the public, including tourists, as it is not widely available on the retail market yet, he said. - FMT